Followers

FEEDJIT Live Traffic Feed

About Me

Wednesday, February 02, 2011

Wolves in Sheep's Clothing

The world is changing faster than it ever has. No pundit I follow expected revolutions in across North Africa and the Middle East in just a few weeks. That it all seemed to be driven by Facebook and Twitter is astonishing. Everyone’s watching to see what emerges and all bets are off.

Best case scenario? Secular, western-style democracy takes root in each country; the whole region elects western-friendly governments and moves into the 21st century. That’s what most of the original demonstrators dream of and I hope they get it, but . . .

Worst case scenario? Radical Muslims take control of the revolutions in a half-dozen countries as they did in 1979 Iran. It spreads to Saudi Arabia; they all attack Israel again in a couple of years; and there’s full-scale war across the Middle East.

In between those two possibilities might be this: The Egyptian military appoints another of their own like Omar Suleiman to replace Mubarak and everything calms down in the region for a bit.

By the time this is published a trend might become visible and I’ll have to revise daily, maybe hourly. The unexpected catalysts for it all have been twenty-something males in Tunisia and elsewhere - but not the ones looking to blow themselves up to kill us to get their 72 black-eyed virgins in Paradise. Instead, they seem to be secular Arabs who are educated, unemployed or under-employed, with modern electronic communications they use to coordinate demonstrations. But where do they want to take their countries? Not clear. Seems they know what they don’t want, but haven’t much clue about what they want to replace it. Democracy is difficult. Even if it’s obtained, it’s not an easy thing to maintain. Most pundits focus is on Egypt because it’s the biggest Arab Muslim country in the region with over 80 million people. Thanks to billions in US foreign aid, they have a huge military, and they control the Suez Canal. Demonstrators there say they want Mubarak out and democracy in. Okay. No problem. Mubarak is our ally because he’s a bulwark against radical Muslims like the Muslim Brotherhood - out of which al Qaida, Islamic Jihad, Hamas, and other enemy groups emerged. If he left, someone else from the military could replace him as I outlined above.

Last week though, they were joined by thousands of Muslim Brotherhood demonstrators. Uh-oh. Sunday a reporter on Fox News refer to the Muslim Brotherhood as a “social human rights group.” The Muslim Brotherhood? Was he kidding? One of their affiliates (Islamic Jihad) shot Mubarak’s predecessor, Anwar Sadat, because he signed a peace treaty with Israel and because he wouldn’t institute Shariah Law. The Muslim Brotherhood is anything but a “social human rights group.” It would be disastrous for them to take control of Egypt and the Suez canal, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes through every day.

The Muslim Brotherhood would never abide by Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel. The founding charter of their offspring, Hamas, calls for the killing of every Jew in Israel. The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that the Muslim Brotherhood is backing Mohamed ElBaradei as the leading spokesman for the Egyptian demonstrators. Some see him as a stabilizing force, but this is not good. ElBaradei is no friend of the United States or Israel. That he has a Nobel Prize impresses our liberal mainstream media, but they should know better. As head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he ran interference for Iranian nuclear weapons development. With those weapons, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad promises to “wipe Israel off the map.” ElBaradei is a sly one. He’s not our friend and his association with the Muslim Brotherhood is not a recent development. They’ve played footsie for a while now. On Monday, the MB and ElBaradei offered to form an interim government. Watch out for wolves in sheep’s clothing.As former US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton put it: “If the Muslim Brotherhood can bring down the government and install a radical Islam regime there, in control of the Suez Canal, one can only wonder what will happen in the oil rich kingdoms of the Arabian peninsula. So there's a lot that rides on the outcome of this that will have a direct impact on America's economy and America's security."

There are some who see what’s happening in North Africa as all good. I hope they’re right, but I’ll reserve my judgement. Seems that Bolton will too: "We are not on the verge of the Dawning of the Age of Aquarius in Egypt if only the demonstrators get their way,” he said. “In this very complex, very fast moving situation, the strategic interests of the U.S. in Egypt are enormous, profound and "critical".

Tom These are SCARY times!!! As you know,we have Moslem Brotherhood here in America. It is taught/spread throughout our prisons everyday! The rapid,recent growth of mosques(Saudi funded)here is disturbing. The change of NASA from a scientific research organization to Moslem outreach was disturbing. Let's pray that the MB is unsuccessful in taking over Egypt. It would empower the MB here. Hug your children..this is a scary new world!

As long as these Muslim dominated countries have a supreme religious leader, there will never be a democratic government there.We 'imnpose' democracy on people who have no idea what it is all about. We waste lives and money doing all this and very little changes. Sometimes I think it is just a modern version of the Christian Crusades which were no more successful. We have not learned from that particular history and probably never will. If an all powerful god does exist he will not discriminate when he decides he has had enough of this nonsense. To paraphrase Albert Einstein, I dont know how the World War III will be fought but the one after that will be fought witn stick and stones.

Thank you...It always pleases me to see how easily fooled the american public is...If you truly believe that this debacle in Egypt hasn't been staged the global elite than you probably also believe in global warming. It is obvious that the spin on this story is to scare the general public in the usa to believing that social networking sites are "dangerous". As a result you will think it is a good thing when our own government proposes to have the internet 'kill switch' put in place.The Muslim Brotherhood? Please--they are nothing more than globalist shills meant to scare you sheep into thinking all muslims are evil. Who do you all think runs the world? Governments? Please. Don;t you find it interesting that for at least five days the protests were mostly peaceful---then all of the sudden Mubarak's "supporters" show up?The sad reality is that we have been fooled and robbed of our once great country by a cabal of ultra-greedy elitists who control both sides---always have...So, if you want to appease them and help further their agenda, keep arguing over the so-called liberal and conservative points of view.They like it when you live in constant fear and unfounded prejudices.

Well if you deny global warming then you may have lost touch with reality. Global warming is very real, what is subject to debate is what is causing it. Perhaps Al Gore is full of crap or perhaps he is not. Perhaps it is just a natural cycle the the Earth is going through or perhaps it is not, but to deny it strikes me as a bit naive.One more thing, the Revolution that separated the Colonies from English rule was not universally supported and the inbred arrogance of the English people helped them lose. Sometimes all it takes is a determined group with a serious cause. Do not lose track of history.

Global warming? You realize whomever controls energy controls the means of production? BTW, you watch/experience the weather lately? And I'm naive? The hubris used to defend global warming is amazing. The media is owned by large corporations..These corporations have an agenda, to convince you that we need carbon credits---then the "gov't" controls everything...Think about it. You control energy output you control it all."Perhaps it is just a natural cycle or perhaps it is not, but to deny it strikes me as a bit naive." Deny what?The copious amounts of snow falling as I write this?...And, finally, the American Revolution? Seriously?

Thanks for supporting the corporate/media machine who will no doubt begin discussions on Fox news about how we should be leery of the impending dangers of facebook to organize violent protests here in America. Heck maybe tie Loughner into it somehow and the sheeple will be begging for more of their personal freedoms and rights to be taken away...Remember the Patriot Act? We have no rights anymore because they took them in the name of freedom..Yup, those damn terrorists are everywhere--

"Well if you deny global warming then you may have lost touch with reality. Global warming is very real, what is subject to debate is what is causing it. Perhaps Al Gore is full of crap or perhaps he is not."

Yeah!! You're right! Thank our own Susan Collins for introducing the internet "kill-switch" bill w/ Joe Lieberman. I can't stand Collins--Accorindg to PC Magazine regarding the bill: The most specious reason for this mechanism is that if some evil worm or attack on the National infrastructure-a.k.a. "Cyberwar"-would be underway, the Internet would need to be shut down to prevent further damage to the country, which apparently can no longer function without the Net. This is kind of a weird tautology. The country can't function without the Net, so we need to secure it, which includes having the ability to shut it down. But with the Net down, how can the country function?

According to an anonymous business source: We can't think of a single case where using such a "kill switch" would make sense (if terrorists mount such a strong cyberattack that we have to use it, isn't that still a win for them?) but we can think of many, many potential avenues for abuse. This has implications not just for free speech but also for free markets, as zillions of businesses (including this one!) depend on the internet directly or indirectly.

Orwell rolls in his grave. Welcome to the New World Order folks...While we've been busy arguing about left and right, barak obama and gw bush and bear sterns and healthcare your country has been stolen..

Unbelievable that somebody would use the power of large corporations in an arguement AGAINST global warming. Do you think Big Oil and Big Coal want you to beieve in global warming? Hell no, and they will spend millions upon millions to fund their propaganda machine. The evidence is undeniable for anyone with an open mind. Deniers of global warming sound as goofy as Flat Earthers. Wake up.

The Global Warming myth is politically driven, not scientifically. I am no scientist, but there is as much anti-GW evidence out there as there is pro. We have not been recording temperature on this planet for very long; in relation to the age of the planet it's miniscule. The planet goes through cooling and warming trends, that is proven.... Heck, we have governments endorsing geo-engineering--basically dumping chemicals into the atmosphere--to "combat" GW..It seems that this all being done in an attempt to convince us that we need to be very closely monitored by the government as to our energy use...Hummm...Who benefits from that scenario? And, as always, consider the source for your information..Anything Al Gore endorses is certainly suspect.

Since ONE THOUSAND scientists weren't enough for you here are another THREE THOUSAND plus...

Human-induced global warming is real, according to a recent U.S. survey based on the opinions of 3,146 scientists.

Two questions were key: Have mean global temperatures risen compared to pre-1800s levels, and has human activity been a significant factor in changing mean global temperatures?

About 90 percent of the scientists agreed with the first question and 82 percent the second.

The article concludes by stating:

"The debate on the authenticity of global warming and the role played by human activity is largely nonexistent among those who understand the nuances and scientific basis of long-term climate processes,"

So enough of this nonsense. I feel like I am arguing with somebody who doesn't believe in the moon landing, or who claims that tobacco does not cause cancer.

To say that the oft-touted "30,000 Global Warming Petition" project stinks would be an understatement.

I thought it would be timely to once-again breakdown this flawed piece of global warming denier propaganda after it was mentioned last night in Daily Show host Jon Stewart's interview with US Energy Secretary of Energy, Dr. Stephen Chu.

.1% of Signers Have a Background in Climatology

The Petition Project website offers a breakdown of the areas of expertise for those who have signed the petition.

In the realm of climate science it breaks it breaks down as such:

Atmospheric Science (113)

Climatology (39)

Meteorology (341)

Astronomy (59)

Astrophysics (26)

So only .1% of the individuals on the list of 30,000 signatures have a scientific background in Climatology. To be fair we can add in those who claim to have a background in Atmospheric Science, which brings the total percentage of signatories with a background in climate change science to a whopping .5%.

The page does not break out the names of those who do claim to be experts in Climatology and Atmospheric Science, which makes even that .5% questionable [see my section on 'unverifiable mess" below].

This makes an already questionable list seem completely insignificant given the nature of scientific endeavor.

When I think I'm having chest pains I don't go to Dermatologist, I go to a Cardiologist because it would be absurd to go to skin doctor for a heart problem. It would be equally absurd to look to a scientist with a background in Medicine (of which there are 3,046 on the petition) for an expert opinion on the science of climate change. With science broken down into very narrow specialties a scientific expert in one specialty does not make that person an automatic authority in all things science.

In this way the logic of the 30,000 petition is completely flawed, which isn't surprising given its questionable beginnings.

The petition first emerged in April 1998 and was organized by Art Robinson of the self-proclaimed “Oregon Institute of Science and Medicine” (OISM) [their headquarters are the Photo Inset].

Along with the Exxon-backed George C. Marshall Institute, Robinson's group co-published the infamous “Oregon Petition” claiming to have collected 17,000 signatories to a document arguing against the realities of global warming.

The petition and the documents included were all made to look like official papers from the prestigious National Academy of Science. They weren’t, and this attempt to mislead has been well-documented.

Along with the petition there was a cover letter from Dr. Fred Seitz (who has since deceased) a notorious climate change denier (and big tobacco scientist), who over 30 years ago was the president of the National Academy of Science.

Also attached to the petition was an apparent “research paper” titled: Environmental Effects of Increased Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide. The paper was made to mimic what a research paper would look like in the National Academy’s prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy journal. The authors of the paper were Robinson, Sallie Baliunas, Willie Soon (both oil-backed scientists) and Robinson’s son Zachary. With the signature of a former NAS president and a research paper that appeared to be published in one of the most prestigious science journals in the world, many scientists were duped into signing a petition based on a false impression.

The petition was so misleading that the National Academy issued a news release stating: "The petition project was a deliberate attempt to mislead scientists and to rally them in an attempt to undermine support for the Kyoto Protocol. The petition was not based on a review of the science of global climate change, nor were its signers experts in the field of climate science."

An Unverifiable Mess

Time and time again, I have had emails from researchers who have taken random samples of names from the list and Google searched them for more information. I urge others to do the same. What you'll quickly find is either no information, very little information or information substantiating the fact that the vast majority of signers are completely unqualified in the area of climate change science.

For example,

"Munawwar M. Akhtar" - no info other than the fact that he is a signatory on the petition.

"Fred A. Allehoff" - no info other than the fact that he is a signatory on the petition.

"Ernest J. Andberg" - no info other than the fact that he is a signatory on the petition.

"Joseph J. Arx" - no info other than the fact that he is a signatory on the petition.

"Adolph L. Amundson" - a paper by Amundson on the "London Tunnel Water Treatment System Acid Mine Drainage." [PDF]

"Henry W. Apfelbach" - an Orthopedic Surgeon

"Joe R. Arechavaleta" - runs an Architect and Engineering company.

And this is only names I picked in the "A's." I could go on, but you get my point. The list is very difficult to verify as a third-party, but this hasn't stopped the Petition from bouncing around the internet and showing up in mainstream media.

Given all this it seems to me that anyone touting this as proof that "global warming is a hoax" completley misunderstands the process of scientific endeavor or has completely exhausted any real argument that rightfully brings into to doubt the reality of climate change.

"Given all this it seems to me that anyone touting this as proof that "global warming is a hoax" completley misunderstands the process of scientific endeavor or has completely exhausted any real argument that rightfully brings into to doubt the reality of climate change."

Please, I beg you, watch the whole program and then back your statement up. Cut and paste youtube link from previous comment. Thank you.

ok, I watched your youtube clip. It was quite lacking in the way of scientific evidence.

Look, I hate to be arguing with you because I believe we have much in common. I am glad to see you are distrustful of corporations and their takeover of our country. I too would like to see smaller government and less interference with our lives. I am not pleased with Obama's kissing up to Big Business. Same for Bush. I am very skeptical about what I hear coming out of Washington. I am a pure independent and take each issue as it comes. I have heavily read and researched both sides of the global warming issue and find the evidence highly on the side of the vast majority of scientists who believe it is for real. Don't give me more of that Petition Project nonsense until you have read all of what I have posted about it. Then tell me exactly what you don't agree with.

I don't take this lightly either and hope that you really take the time and effort to study BOTH sides of the arguement. I think you will find that you are being played by the biggest corporations of all - Big Oil and Big Coal.

If you actually watched the whole thing then I cannot form any response as the evidence is right there, plain to see, provided by very qualified people. This has nothing to do with the petition project deal either.And, yes, I have researched both sides of the issue and simply don't agree that man-made carbon dioxide is warming the climate---sunspots and solar flares contributing to natural cooling and warming trends that have been occurring for billlions of years sound more plausible than 200 years industrial pollution---really 100 on a global scale.

John wrote in 90 AD (Revelation 16) that one day all the armies of the world will gather together, to battle against Israel, to a place called Armageddon. This place is a land bridge into Israel from West, North and East and is 55 miles NW of Jerusalem. Has not happened yet.

Amos wrote in 835 BC "I will also gather all nations and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat (Armageddon) and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel whom they have scattered among the nations and parted my land...prepare war, wake up the mighty men let all the men of war draw near, let them come up...let the Heathen be wakened...multitudes multitudes in the valley of decision (to cut; bring to a point) for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision...Egypt shall be a desolate wilderness for the violence against the children of Judah (Israel) because they have shed innocent blood in their land but Judah shall dwell forever and Jerusalem from generation to generation. Joel 3

Why in the world do you suppose Israel is still alive? What is keeping them there? Their existence today is nothing but miraculous and biblical prophesy fulfilled right before our very eyes.

Zechariah wrote this in 520 B.C. "Behold I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem."

…I don’t think most of the self-identified doubters of climate change are really skeptical at all. They’re deniers, not questioners. Some of them, I’ve come to believe, are cynically dishonest in their public posturing. Some are willfully ignorant of the near-consensus among scientists.

Sure, there are a few scientist outliers who look at the same data as their colleagues and interpret it differently from the other 99 percent.

But the most prominent “skeptics,” including the likes of Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe, political celebrity Sarah Palin and the legion of bloviators on Fox News, have closed their eyes and their minds. They’re supported by the most self-interested and deep-pocketed of the “skeptics,” the coal and oil industries.

The increase in carbon dioxide, which climate scientists understand to be the biggest, though not the only, contributor to global warming, is “derived mostly from the human activities of fossil-fuel burning and deforestation.” Those words come from an essay published last week in the Washington Post by Alan Leshner, chief executive of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The AAAS is just one of the scientific organizations that accepts the overwhelming evidence. The others include our National Academy of Sciences, the federal agencies NASA and NOAA, the World Meteorological Organization and the worldwide Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has concluded that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal.” The U.S. military has identified climate change as a threat to our national security and has begun to plan accordingly.

And what about “Climategate,” you ask? I refer you to FactCheck.org, which reviewed the issue exhaustively and reported a week ago that the contents of those pilfered e-mails don’t change the facts or affect the conclusions of all those researchers.

The deniers Petition of names has been completely debunked without even an attempt to save face. This leaves them a British made documentary with a few talking heads rehashing the same old BS that the vast majority of climate experts have declared to be wrong. Hmmm, who to believe?

"Why is Israel still around? I would say that the protection given by the USA would be the reason."

Yes, that is one important reason and I believe we were raised up for that sole purpose...to protect Israel. But what will happen when we losen our grip?

You may want to read some history. Go back to the 1800's and read about how there was absolute no chance that Israel would ever see statehood. It was not going to happen. They had been wandering for 2,000 years with no country to call their own. But yet scripture is clear they would come into their own land in the last days(read Ezek 37) before the countries of the world would line up against them.

They were considered dead. What other country would be able to come from the ashes like that and join togehter as one AFTER 2000years? Are you kidding me? I could list a whole lot of people groups of antiquity that are no longer around because they were assimilated into other cultures yet that did not happen to the Jews. Even AFTER 2000 years.

I've read bible commentators from the 1700-1800's who said biblically speaking that somehow Israel had to come into their own land in order for the rest of prophecy to take place because EVERYTHING centers around Israel. Everything. They said this in the face of those politically savey ones who said it would never happen. Who had the truth?

Think about it. Israel is just a tiny slice of real estate in the whole scope of things but nothing has so dominated world news more than that little piece of land and those people. Like I said there's a reason for this.

"Greenpeace leader Gerd Leipold has been forced to admit that his organization issued misleading and exaggerated information when it claimed that Arctic ice would disappear completely by 2030, in a crushing blow for the man-made global warming movement.In an interview with the BBC’s Stephen Sackur on the “Hardtalk” program, Leipold initially attempted to evade the question but was ultimately forced to admit that Greenpeace had made a “mistake” when it said Arctic ice would disappear completely in 20 years."

You all can youtube the interview--pretty amazing really. Seems to be a lot of controversy over something so seemingly simple to see and prove. Why would anyone who knows the absolute truth--a truly enlightened person/group, resort to such tactics as exaggerating and, well, lying??? Don't forget the leaked/hacked e-mails from the CRU last year--how can anyone defend that?

"Why do we support a country whose unforgivable treatment of their enemies is always being justified by the mainstream media, or simply covered up?"

I don't know where you get that. They've been invaded by Muslim Arab countries three times and they're rocketed every single day by Hamas (Muslim Brotherhood).

"Why is this place so important?"

There's the essential question. Israel is the canary in the coal mine. We see what radical Islam has in store for us by what they do to Israel. Israel is an outpost of western civilization in a barren, hostile Arab Muslim world. We're the Great Satan and they're the Little Satan to radical Muslims, and the radicals are on the increase. Israel is our best friend in the region.

I used to be persuaded that if it weren't for our support of Israel, the radical Muslims wouldn't hate us so, but I was wrong. They're determined to bring down all of western civilization and Israel is the closest symbol. They've routed Jews all the region from North Africa to Iran, who were living there long before Muhammed and now they're driving out Christians who also predate them.

They're empowered by our petrodollars and they're toppling the dominoes of secular government all across the region. If you don't mind becoming Sharia-compliant, you have nothing to worry about, but I prefer living under the Bill of Rights.

How important is Israel in the history of the world? As Dawn points out, they're an anomaly at the very least. Reconstituted after two millennia? Unprecedented. I've traveled through the country and it's eerie. As one veteran of the 1948 war told me about Israel: "Too much history; not enough geography." I've been to Megiddo too - the site foretold in the Gospel of John for Armageddon. I walked around by myself and it's spooky.

Go from Jewish settlements to Arab settlements in the West Bank or anywhere else and it's like stepping back two centuries - trash, idleness, smell of sewage, hostility, posters of Yasser Afafat - Israel is the front line.

Oh, and human-caused global warming? The biggest hoax of the 20th and 21st centuries. Liberal hysteria.

For more than three years I've been sitting under the teaching of a 75 year old Messianic Jew, (Marv Rosenthal)speaker and author who has taught me so much about the history of Israel. He has a two part CD called "Israel Under Seige" that I highly recommend for any who wishes to know what's really been going on. www.zionshope.org

In it he goes on to describe one miracle after another surrounding Israel including every war Israel ever went thru. He covers all the centuries right up to present day. He systematically outlines the events starting with biblical events going all the way into present day including stories behind the Prime Ministers including Golda Meir, WWI, WWII, the story behind Eli Cohen, and even Harry Truman's role in 1948.

For instance....

Harry Truman was all set to vote against Israel's statehood until he received a knock on the white house door. That very influential knock was from his Jewish partner and long time friend back in Missouri, a guy named Edward Jacobson.

Coincidence?? Nope. Way back in Truman's younger years he had a business relationship (had a store together) with this Jacobson who persuaded Truman to vote for Israel's statehood. Secretary of State George Marshall was vehemently opposed to this because he feared what the Arabs would do.

It wasn't a coincidence that our sitting President at this very critical time in history had a Jewish partner in his background who had an open door to the Oval Office.

When you look at each amazing detail surrounding Israel's history it's an absolutely in your face moment to see that there is definitely a plan going on here. It's stranger than fiction when you put the pieces together.

I am going to Israel in May with Marv and was just told we will be 57 yards from the border of Egypt. I am also looking forward to seeing Megiddo in person.

There is no question that the Jews have struggled for too long to have a place to call home. And they certainly deserve it. However, I think it is very important to be objective when looking at the actions of Israel and the Palestinians. Israel is not always justified in their actions--e.g. the flotilla incident last year was a bloody mess and unprovoked.But, perhaps what bothers me most about this seemingly endless struggle in the Gaza strip is that, at its very core, this is about religion. It doesn't really which you prefer, at their core they are all essentially trying to preach the same message: love your neighbor, treat others as you wish to be treated, and, most important, do not kill.

Thanks guys for pointing me to the http://www.petitionproject.org. Shame I did not know about this project. I am signing and mailing my petition card right away. You may add another PhD in Physics to your statistics.

"...The petition was so misleading that the National Academy issued a news release stating: "The petition project was a deliberate attempt to mislead scientists and to rally them...."

So easy to copy 'n paste stuff from DeSmogBlog. Mighty embarrassing when you place all of your trust in such an outfit like that. Try walking into a casino with $10,000 of your own money that will take such a wager, and defy them to prove the NAS news release does NOT actually say that. Then come back here and explain how that turned out for ya......